Snubbed trailing setting switch stand



sept. 14, 1948. o, F, MAGNUS 2,449,239

SNUBBED TRAILING SETTING SWITCH STAND Filed Nov. 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gj)- A 1;

` ATTORNEY Sept. 1'4, 1948. `o. F. MAGNus SNBBED TRAILING SETTING SWITGP'I STAND Filed nov. 2 5, 1944 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 14, 1.948

Oscar F. Magnus, Chicago, Ill., assignor lto American Brake Shoe Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 25, 1944, Serial No. 565,072

claims. (ctms- 284) I l i The invention relates to snubbed trailing setting` switchstands and more `particularly to switchstands such as used for operating railway switches and the like.

An important feature `of the invention is to provide `retarding means for automatic switch- 5 Althugh the nevel features Which are lee-` stands'or 'switchpperating,mechanisms which lieved tobe characteristic of thisinventionwill permit the switclawhen opened by a train, to be particularly pointed out in the claims apcomplete its throw to the opposite position and pendedhereto, the invention itself, as to its obto stay there. Such switchstands are some times jects and advantages,` and the manner in which referred to as of thefsetover or kickover type itmay be Carried 011i?, may be better linderStOOCl in contrast to the return or kick-back? type by `referring `t0 tlleLfOllOWing description teken which causes thejswitch to return to its original in connection with rthe accompanying drawings position after the train has passed. `Such a forming a Dart, hereof, in Which i switchstand may be operated by hand to inten- Fig. l represents a plan view of a low type tionally throw the switch from one position to the switchstand to which the invention is ,applied; other. `The automatic mechanism permits thel Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; t I switch to be thrown by a train trailing thel switch Fig.` 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 when theswitch is set against passage of the` illustrating the operating mechanism; trein; The retardingmechanism controls the 2c Fie. 4 is e' plan vier/'With covers remcved `end automatic operation to reduce shock .and wear Certain parts ShOWn in section; i t on the parts of the switchstand, the switch and Fig-.5 is a `detail Section 0f a Spring assembly connecting parts. t Y and accompanying buiier mechanism; and

The invention is illustrated as applied to a Fig. 6 is a detail taken 0n the lineA 6 5 0f Well known type of low switchstand disclosed in Fig. 5. Y n .s 1 Eastburn Patent` No. 2,124,190, dated July 19, In the fCillOWiIler deseription and in ille Claims, 1938, but it will be understood that it may be various details will be identified by specific names applied to other types of switchstand including for convenience, but thevare intended tc be as the high type switchstand disclosed in Cooper generic in their application as the art will permit.- and Eastburn Patent No. 1,964,721, dated July 3, Like reference characters denote like parts in 1934. the several figures of the drawings. p

According to a preferred form of the inven- In the drawings accompanying and forming tion, the casing of a low switchstand is provided Part 0f this SlieGii'lGalion,V Certain SPeCie diswith a vertical spindle having a conventional closure 0f the invention is made for purposes of crank arm at its lower end for connection to the explanefiin, but iii Will be underStOOd that the switch. The spindle, which is adapted t0 have details may be modiied in various' respects withthe target or flag fixed to its upper end, has a, out departure from the broad aspect of the inhorizontally pivoted operating lever by which ventn. I i p the switch `is manually thrown. Surrounding Referring now tor the drawings, the switchthe spindle, and journaled in the casing, is a 40 stand comprises e Casing indicated, in general, safety or star block having four recesses sepaby Il) having base flanges Il for spiking or otherrated by star points in its side and also having wise securing to the railroad ties. The casing locking recesses in its top which latter are enhas upstanding sides andY is coveredby a threegageable by the operating lever to lock the part covering comprising amid-section I2 and switchstand in thrown positions. To relatively easily removable end sections I'3 and` Ill. This xedly hold the swltchpoints in thrown position, a pair of oppositely disposed helical spring assemblies is provided in the base engaging opposite sides ofthe star block. Disposed within each helical spring `of the two spring assemblies is a` iiuid buffer whose cylinder is connected to the movable part of the spring assembly and whose` piston is iixedly connected to the casing wall. Suitable `control passages are provided in the buier to permit relatively free compression of the spring assemblies but to retard their `extions of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

type of cover is described in detail and `claimed in E-astburn PatentNo., 1,783,283, granted December2,1930.` ,i .f

Seated within the casing I0 and journaled in the mid-cover section I2 is a, star block I5 having four'recesses 42 engageable bythe spring pressedrollers I6, as indicated in Fig. 4; The top of `star block I5 is provided with four slots 30 opening upwardly. i Journaled withinthe star block I5 is a vertical spindle I1 passing through i an ear 2I-towhichthe operating-garminfispivote ed. The sleeve 2"!11 alsolh'as a lug 22,*supporting a lock eye 23 through which a padlock (not shown) may be passed for locking the switchstand.

The operating arm or (ironici/e124' isforked.N to straddle the sleeve 20 andhasfe'ars25;4 ern-L bracing ear 2I through all of which pivot boltl 26 passes. Part of the arm-Zgisfshapedlztolformi a housing 21 seating a spiral spring( 285engaging`1 against a suitable washer.

between the bottom of the housing 21 and the lug 22 to urge the operatingrarm downwardly.'V n

The side of housing 21 is provided with a small eye 3l to which the chain of the padlockfmayflbesecured. Y

Formed preferably: inte'gralLw-ith'.,theboperatngf arm 24 are laterally extending plate members-132 hayingzdepending sflangesi33. These Aplateimernbers 32,` depending. fiange'si 33,'I together; with"k the. hinge fears 21| I and .2151andfh`ousingl 21 form a protecting. housingfor` covering'mforthe four.v slotsail in-thelstar block` I`52-thus-protect-ing these Slots from the-introduction 'of foreignim'atter; no. mat;- ter-1 to what* positionH thel swfltchstand. is thrown.

Pivoted. by pivot -bolt 36Ltotheside'sof;casing; I is'v hand-lever 34. This handlever. is provided with a slot 351m whichktheloperating farmi Miengages. Movement of .l the'` hand -J lever from one position to the othe'rlifts drop ,lever 2412out of' a. locking recess 3l),` swings' -the2dropileveri24- ninety degrees -andl drops fit intof-thenext locking; recess 'f 30, all in one operation f TheV star block-1511s always iinrengagernentwith oppositely disposed Arol-1ers il Sa-idlrollers I 65 are journaled in` yokesf or' frames 40'1 `and` yieldingly held in engagement-with therstarblockfrecessesfl 42 by helical springs* 4I2 The arrangern'ent`- of these parts is such that any-movementnfithe star block` I5 Willlcompressith'e springs14-l whichlwill automatically tend to return the block to its original-position, with vone Switchpoint against itsst'ock rail; vuntil the points of the kstar 'blockf I 'lpassl-the center line ofthe rollers 'I 6; whereupon-the' action of the springs 4i' will tend-'to rotate Y thel` block. furtherv `and in'A the samev direction untilI the rollers I 6 againcorneto rest in ther'star block-'re-u cesses 4Z, thereby#throwing and holding-the other Switchpoint againstithe stock'raili The `yolz'es 4I)` are guided-in their movement' byguides 4'3. The helicalv springs`41'l operate-bef tween' shouldersA 44 on the-vyokeslliffandthe'- end Walls 45 lof the casing I 0f. f The yokes' llil'aire relieved at 46 to permit a certain lateralrn'ove-l ment of the yokes to help prevent'thestar'blo'ck sticking; at dead center position.`

For controlling-the movement 'ofthefspring assemblies, each spring hasidispo'sed within it af dashpot lor buffer mechanism;v Since these-'buiiers` are identical,v itis vonly necessaryfto @describe-4 one in detail. v

Each buffer comprises a cylinder41 which vmay be integral with itsadjacent yokfe 40125 Disposed within the cylinder 41 is a piston 48-haVinga`rodV 49 which passes through 4anopenln'gin vthe casing end wall 451; The rod-49engag`esfa bentstrap lon 'backer- 50 suitably-'secured tothe'slde' walls of the 1' casing IIJ by bolts 5Ii A'nutl and washer 52-arer mounte'dcnthe screw\threaded endoffrod 49 fto engage v'the end walll45of casing'IIll andi to pre ventinwardimovement of'l the rod49 'Iihisf'ar-Mv 1 cylinderfhead'tll' and in a cap 62.

rangement also provides a simple means for compacting the spring when assembling the switchstand.

The lower edge of strap 50 may rest upon the bottom flange I I `of the casing and its upper edge may extend flush with the upper edge of casing I0. If desired, each endcover ltfand I4'- may be provided witha triangular extension 55=to overlie the strap 50, as shown especially in Figure 1.

The cylinder 41 has a longitudinal groove 60 extending partway of the length and is closed by a cylinder head 6I threaded into the bore The piston rod 49 passes somewhatfloosely through holes in the To seal these openings 'against-the escape of oil, a conventional packing 63 is disposed in a recess 15 in cylinder head 5I and held in position by cylinder cap 62.

The piston rod 49 has an enlargement providing shoulders 64 and 65;' It also has areduced en'd'afurmin'gl avshoulderl'12 againstllwhicli seats alcup supporti 6'9. .A'zle'ather'a cupfHints-.ioyer cups supporti Siif and. ai cup. backerf 101: fits :againsttthe: leather cup 1I. A nut 13thre'addonirodllg holds the. leather washer. II` tightlyi'comp'ressed between discsll 69 .f andi 'Ill l acting against?. sh'ouliierlk 12, Y Ther edgewalls of leather.cup.1Itightlwen-l gage' the' cylinder walls as1willbeundrstoodi Largei alignment holes 'lipassthrouglfictucfsup` porti 69,ba'cker 10'and11eather: cupdfh: 'Iili'ese parts are prevented fromzrotationby ensuitable@ key 161'.

The. piston: 48 is' provided?! 'With'l a cheek1 valve? comprising a valveap 1in the` fibrinl of; atme'tal-l Discf 61. is. slidable on the. rodiwandfi is yiedably. heldfagainst cup'fsupportISJIby 'ai-helix cal .springl 14 actingfagainst a" wash'eiffd' restingl onfsho'ulder 64; The valve disc 6'Iliasa/lpliiralityi'` of pin holes 6s souspacedthat,atfleastjonetoif these holeswillalwaysiregister with each offtliel` largef holes 1115i; T-hei cylinderA 41|' may com@ pletelyfy lled; on both4 sidesl of pistonfllf` with? suitable hydraulic fluid, such as lightjoilt w 1t` willbe understoodthat, when the'swtchstand isthrown `automatiorlilly by action :ofa tre'iii'rf` trailing through the switch,- the safety blek'iisl rotated more than fortyeiive degrees' andithe -c-yl inders A`41 are forced back; cornpressin-g the` switchstand springs 41|." As -1 the-cyliden 4&1 Sis# forced 4back, the oil in the'=oylinder passes 1 frorii the left of the piston, as illustrated in Figurei-Sl to the right throughthe aligned openings--15, raising theaprvalve 611 off" its seat Thelreturnof the cylinder 41`toiit's original position by the* pressure of theI switchstan'dlspring' 4 I is'I retarded'A bythe `slow`v flow of' oil from vthe right offtheepis'eton tothe leftthrough thelpinv holes 68i in ltl'iefiiapj valve 6T which is held onlitsseat bothby? valve= spring '14"and by oil pressure. This condition ooecurs until the switchpointslarealmost honiefwhen the piston 48 becomes' bypassed y by'- the cylinder? wall groove Bil. ThisE causes tl'i`e=foil'-pressure-ont` opposite sidesof? the piston to 'equalizemorel quickly, causing the switchpoints-to move-mordlr quickly as theyI approach theirv homefposition@ with one againstthe stock rail. n

Inr operation; with' the parts inithefrpositibni shown' in Fig. 1, the switchpointsfareinionesetti position, say for traie on'v the siding@or'qbran'eh'-l line. When iti is desiredmanually-to operate lth'ef switchpointsto the other 'setf position; ytlieilpadlockf (notshownl is removed* from hole`l235'and hand 1ever-34swungfupiandlover to its -herLpo-- sition; v- This .raisesy dropllever 24`outtoflaynotelii 3llan'd moves the dropfleverfand'fspindle I Inineti/si degrees in which new position the drop lever 24 seats in the next locking notch 30. The handle 34 may be locked in this new position by replacing thepadlock in hole 23. l i l f It will be noted that, when the switchpoints are operated as above described, the star block I5 remains stationary, the crank arm" I9 and spindle I'I turning to operate the switchpoints.

If, however, the switchpoints are set against a train and the train trails the swit-chpoints4 with them set against it, the Wheels will force the switchpoints from their set position, operating the crank arm I9 and turning the entire assembly including spindle I1, drop lever 24, together with the star block I5, as a unit. Hand lever 34 will also be operated. The rotation of the star block I5 causes the spring pressed rollers 40 to ride up on the points of the star block against the pressure of springs 4I until the star block has rotated forty-five degrees and is in dead center position after which thefstar block will continue to rotate under influence of the switch points, the expansion or return of the helical springs tending to assist this further rotation. The movement of the yokes 40 causes the buffer action described above, that is, the buffers oier little or no resistance to :compression of the helical springs but impede or retard their expansion. It will be understood that this action of the buier and of the springs will take place regardless of the set position of the switchpoints when set against a train trailing the switch.

Thus a switchstand has been described which is compact, having all of the operating parts enclosed within a housing where they are protected from dirt and injury. The switchstand is rigid and permits free manual operation of the switchpoints from either position to the other. The points must be fully thrown before the switchstand can be latched, and the target or signal always indicates the position of the switchpoints. The spring mechanisms, for accomplishing the automatic operation, are located within the housing and are independently connected with the switchstand spindle through rollers and either of the spring assemblies will automatically complete the movement of the trailed switchpoints from original set position to opposite set position when set against train movement and thrown by a train. The b-uiers are also located within the housing and allow free opening of the points and completion of their movement to opposite position by the train but retard the follow-up of the automatic spring mechanisms, which insures the completion of Switchpoint movement from set position to the opposite position.

Thus the retarders permit a train trailing the switch, not only to move the switchpoints from set position without breaking the stand or its connections, but to throw the switchpoints to their opposite position whexrce they remain until moved back either by hand or by another train trailing the switch from the other track. Thus the switchstand is automatically and completely operated by the rst pair of wheels so that there is no further movement of the switchstand during passage of the train. Furthermore, the initial movement of the switchstand to dead center position occurs without substantial retardation by the buier nor is there any retarding force applied by the switchstand to the switchpoints for the second half of their movement to the opposite set position.

All impacts of the switchstand parts, hand lever, switch and connections are minimized by the -retardation of the expandingl movement :of the springY assemblies. ``Iiurthermore, the `re tarders being placed inside the helical springs, take up little `or no additional space. They are protected from the weather by the switchstand casing. They exercise `direct control on the springs and yet the connection between the buffers and the casing is flexible enough to permit the necessary lateral play of the springassemblies to obviate any possibility of the switchstand getting stuck in a dead center position. l The advantages of safety and balance in having two spring assemblies are retained.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed herein. and are pointed out in the annexed claims. it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic switchstand of the setover type, a switchstand casing, a spindle journaled in said casing having set positions corresponding to the opposite set positions of a switch, a movable holding member in said casing having set positions corresponding to the opposite set positions of a switch, over-centering mechanism yieldafbly retaining said holding member in its set positions to permit a train to set over the switchstand from one to its other set position, said overcentering mechanism comprising a movable cylinder member having operative connection with said holding member, said cylinder member having an abutment, a helical spring surrounding said cylinder member and exerting thrust between said abutment and said casing, a piston member within said cylinder member and connected to said casing, said cylinder member and piston member constituting a dashpot, said dash-- pot comprising means exerting comparatively little resistance to compression of said helical spring while exerting comparatively great resistance to expansion of said spring, means for manually moving said spindle between said set positions substantially independently of the action of said over-centering mechanism and of said dashpot, and for normally holding said spindle in fixed relation to said holding member.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the mova'ble holding member comprises a star block surrounding the spindle and the movable cylinder member has a yoke secured thereto and a roller is journaled in saiduyoke, said roller engaging the space between adjoining-points of the star block.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, in which a second overcentering mechanism is provided having a second movable cylinder with yoke and roller, whose roller engages a space between adjoining points of the star block diametrically opposite the point of engagement of the roller of the rst overcentering device.

4. The combination asset forth in claim 2, in which the piston member has a rod passing thru the head of the cylinder member and the casing has guides for the yoke, said piston rod being anchored to said casing so as to permit lateral play of said yoke between said guides when the star block is in dead center position.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the piston member has a rod passing out thru the head of the cylinder member which rod also passes thru the casing wall, a nut on said rod outside said casing wall to limit inward movementroffthe pistonmember-iand rnear'lsf-foz1:1re`L z f a Y ventingoutwardmovementoffthepist0nvmem= f UNITED STATES PATENTS .A 1 ber.' L y Number 1 f Name f Date f e y 318,948 Brown 1..--.. June;2',.1885 OSCAR, Fr MAGNUS- 5 882,021-4 snowv ev a1 I. Mar.f17, 190s M 1 1,020,802, Corts Ma1119,11912 REFERENCES, CITED 1,710,335 Andersen v v A111123,` 1929 .'hfollowng referencesrareofrecordv in fthe 1,964,7.21'1 l s Cooper et a1.' ...Ju1yv3,'1934 le offthispatent:v 2;385,891 1 Swanson` Oct. n2, 1945 

